Regulated bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter which maintains a continuous input current during step-up conversion

• US 5,255,174 A
• Filed: 10/18/1991
• Issued: 10/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Murugan, Muthu K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Application Number:
  US07/779,202
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/17, 363/98, 363/124, 363/125, 363/127, 363/131, 363/132, 363/133, 363/24-26, 323/222, 323/299, 318/376, 318/379, 330/10
• US Class Current: 363/17
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33584 Bidirectional converters

Abstract

A pulse-width modulated, bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter having a regulated output, and capable of converting between a high-potential direct current voltage and a low-potential direct current voltage. The converter'"'"'s magnetic components, as well as several of its semiconductor rectifiers, perform dual functions (one in the step-up mode, and another in the step-down mode), which serves to minimize the total component count, and allows the converter to be both compact and lightweight. Additionally, as the converter maintains a continuous input current during voltage step-up conversion, the generation of signals which might cause electromagnetic interference is reduced.

Claims

1. A bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, which comprises:

a boost sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal;

a bridge sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal, said negative input/output terminal being coupled to the negative input/output terminal of the boost sub-circuit;

a transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, said secondary winding having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a center-tap terminal;

a first filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said boost sub-circuit;

an inductor coupling the positive input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit with the center-tap terminal of said transformer;

a first switching means interposed between the first terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit;

a first rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the first terminal of said secondary winding;

a second switching means interposed between the second terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit;

a second rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the second terminal of said secondary winding;

a third switching means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a third rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the second terminal of said primary winding;

a fourth switching means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a fourth rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the second terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a fifth switching means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a fifth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the first terminal of said primary winding;

a sixth switching means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a sixth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the first terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a second filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said bridge sub-circuit.

2. The bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third fourth, fifth and sixth switching means are metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors.

3. The bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third fourth, fifth and sixth switching means are metal oxide semiconductor controlled thyristors.

4. A bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter, which comprises:

a boost sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal;

a bridge sub-circuit having a positive input/output terminal and a negative input/output terminal, said negative input/output terminal being coupled to the negative input/output terminal of the boost sub-circuit;

a transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, said secondary winding having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a center-tap terminal;

a first filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said boost sub-circuit;

an inductor coupling the positive input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit with the center-tap terminal of said transformer;

a first bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the first terminal of said secondary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit;

a first rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the first terminal of said secondary winding;

a second bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the second terminal of said secondary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit;

a second rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said secondary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said boost sub-circuit to the second terminal of said secondary winding;

a third bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the second terminal of said primary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a third rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the second terminal of said primary winding;

a fourth bipolar transistor, the emitter of which is coupled to the second terminal of said primary winding, and the collector of which is coupled to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a fourth rectifying means interposed between the second terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the second terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a fifth bipolar transistor, the collector of which is coupled to the first terminal of said primary winding, and the emitter of which is coupled to the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a fifth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the negative input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit to the first terminal of said primary winding;

a sixth bipolar transistor, the emitter of which is coupled to the first terminal of said primary winding, and the collector of which is coupled to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a sixth rectifying means interposed between the first terminal of said primary winding and the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit, and polarized so as to allow current to flow from the first terminal of said primary winding to the positive input/output terminal of said bridge sub-circuit;

a second filter capacitor coupling the positive and negative input/output terminals of said bridge sub-circuit.

5. The bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter of claim 4, wherein the first, second, third fourth, fifth and sixth bipolar transistors are NPN transistors.

6. The bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter of claim 4, wherein the first, second, third fourth, fifth and sixth bipolar transistors are insulated gate bipolar transistors.